The technical papers and country papers presented in the consultation examined the
aspects as relevant to: a) the importance of peanut crop in the household food
security and b) gender roles in the peanut sector. From the view point of household
food security, peanuts have a high protein content. Hence they can be an important
item in the food chain to improve the nutritional status of children, women and the
aged. In terms of access, peanuts are cheaper than animal product as a protein base.
As a cash crop, peanuts provide opportunity to earn an income thus increasing the
family's ability to purchase a better quality food resulting in improved nutrition. Since
peanut production is labour intensive, it generated local labour demand and thus
employment. These economic interactions generate income for the hired labor and
thus in such agriculture labour households, the access to food could improve. From
the cultivation perspective, the peanut crop as a nitrogen fixating crop improves the
soil fertility and land of improved soil fertility can be put to use for cultivating other
crops. A diversified cropping system adds to the income potential that could mean
more food for the farm household. Peanuts are a good source of livelihood to augment
family income with a potential to improve access to food. Additionally, peanuts are an
acceptable nutritious food to maintain and improve the nutritional status of the family.

Peanuts are a women's crop in a small farmer production system. In peanut
production, women are involved at all stages of crop production, processing and food
preparation. In the peanut production system, men do heavier jobs but claim fewer
numbers of jobs. Women do the lighter jobs but serve in greater number of activities.
Within peanut sector, in food preparation, at the industrial level, men hold the
managerial jobs and women are the workers. At the household level, women do most
of the work.

Review of the documents and small group deliberations brought out a classification of
activities for men and women in the peanut sector. Table 1 provides the information
on the gender roles in peanut sector as analysed by the participants. The table
indicates that men and women are equally involved in every aspect of production,
though the frequency and levels of involvement varies by the task. At the production
end both women and men's work in all aspects of production except those related to
pest control through application of chemicals and maintaining machinery and
equipment. But women play a key role in seed selection in peanut crop cultivation.
Hence they have the primary responsibility for quality and quantity of crop produced.
Women are more involved in hand shelling of peanuts but machine shelling is mostly
male task domain. Women hare heavily involved in peanut processing phase.
Women are more often responsible for selling peanut as snacks. In the consumption
end, women have the primary responsibility for cooking and thus hold the key to the
quality of the food consumed and the food security of the household members.

2.2 Current Understanding of Gender Concerns by Research and
Extension Services

The common research practice does not give any specific attention to gender issues. But
in a case like dehulling, especially since females are involved, the simplification of the
process through simple modifications may be suggested.

In Thailand research linkages between Department of Agriculture Extension and
Kesetsart University resulted in developing new Peanut Technologies. The technology
is disseminated through Development of Agriculture Extension, to rural clientele.
Among the clientele, 70% are women who implement the technology and the
beneficiaries are 50% each of men and women.

It should be noted that:

Gender concerns are gaining importance nowadays.

Larger number of women scientists, managers, researchers, extension agents are available these days.

Extension services are now also reaching women.

Control is still in the hands of men.

2.3 Methods to Develop Linkages between Researchers and Extensionists to
Improve Women's Access to Peanut-sector Technology

First and foremost extension agents should not make any sort of discrimination in
transferring technology. However, as women are physically less strong, special
attention should be given regarding transfer of appropriate technology to them.

Second, the peanut sector technology should also be inclusive of by-product utilization.

Third, it is important that policy makers should be educated and made aware about the
production, utilization and nutrition value of peanuts.

Fourth, awareness creation about the utilization of byproducts as an integrated approach
in order to generate income may play an instrumental part to expand women's role in
the peanut sector.

Fifth, it is critical to identify the linkages among the various institutions and agencies
involved in research, extension and agriculture production policies.

2.4 Proposed Models of Linkages to Enhance Support to Women in
Peanut Sector

The consultation proposed the following Models of Linkages among the actors
involved in peanut sector development and promotion. Both the models place the
women at the centre to support women's role in the peanut sector. Model A and B
present somewhat similar linkages, while the first is process oriented and the second
takes presents stakeholders' linkages. Additionally model A takes into consideration
the segments in peanut sector to which women contribute.

The proposed models assume that women farmers will go to extension agents for better
technology in the peanut sector. In order to assist women better, researchers will
develop technologies and pass them to the extension personnel for dissemination at
farmers' level. Further, policy makers will support both researchers and education for
extension staff that may facilitate improved transfer of technologies.

2.5 Steps to Support Women's Role in Agriculture Including Peanut as a
Cash Crop

At the production level the following actions require attention to assist
women as farmers:

Provide more resources to women. The resources identified are credit, land, extension service, tool/equipment, knowledge/skills and access to market

Support to improve women's participation in decision making

Gender equality in the distribution of benefits

Involve women in all stages of technology development and transfer

Information dissemination should reach women

Gender sensitization to those involved in research and extension through gender awareness sensitization programmes

Technical and skills training for women

Provision of adequate post harvest handling facilities

Efficient marketing support mechanism that women could use

Provision flexible credit/financing schemes

At the consumption level, the following areas deserve attention to assist
women as farmers and consumers: